"There is no need for such—"
"Nae, there is.'' She flushed, a rosy hue coated her pale skin that was highlighted by the silvery rays of the moon. "I took advantage of ye trust and love. I only used ye and ye were the only one who suffered the consequences. I ken ye committed most of yer crimes because you wanted me. Ye always did what I wanted and I took advantage of that fer me clan. When I found out ye had been banished, I could nae stop me guilt from eating me up from the inside. Please Gawain, accept me apology even though there is nothing it can do now but ease the heaviness in me heart."
Gawain shook his head with a sigh. He had been the sort of man who kept grudges but having returned to the clan, he's realized a few things. He did not need to hold a grudge because there are many sides to a story and not every side will speak highly of a person. "Lady Flora, I bear no grudge against ye. Different things will always happen to people and it doesnae always have to be good. I made me own decisions. I never meant any harm, I only wanted the position promised to me but the way I went about claiming that position was downright awful. I regret me actions and I’ve me share of guilt that beats me up every now and then but I’ve learnt from me mistakes. I’m still doing what I've always wanted, helping out the clan in me own way. Aye, mistakes were made, and the guilt keeps us up at night but trust me, Lady Flora. The best way to deal with it is by coming to terms and learning from those mistakes. Like I initially said, I bear no grudge against ye. Our clans are allies now, ‘tis no use keeping a grudge now, it’ll only draw us back."
Flora nodded with a hum. Her smile widening slightly as she reached up to pat his shoulder, the lace sleeve covering her wrist, fell back to reveal a color pattern of red and blacks on the canvas of her pale skin. Gawain immediately reached out to grab her hand, ignoring her attempts to take it back.
"For the love of… Flora, what happened to ye?" He rolled down her lace sleeve to properly inspect the bruises. The darker ones had started to fade but there was no mistaking the fingerprints they left behind. "Who did this to ye?" Gawain felt his anger spark. The only connection he had to Flora was simply through their clans but he couldn't stop the rage that soared within him at the thought of someone raising their hand to a defenseless woman.
Flora snatched her hand back from Gawain, tucking it behind her back. "Me jewelry was too tight."
"I saw finger marks on yer wrist, Flora." Gawain tried to take her hand but she shifted back. "Tell me who did it or I'll take ye to yer husband and let him see fer himself."
Flora shook her head as she blinked her years away. "And why do ye care so much, Gawain? Ye are acting just like ye used to with me when I was to marry ye. Why does ye care so much? I’m nae yer wife."
"I care because ye’re still a woman and I guess ye were defenseless when this happened. Ye were assaulted by someone and I do nae how to be yer husband or lover fer me to protect a lady. Now tell me who did this to ye."
A moment of silence dragged out between them. The sound of the night woodland creatures overpowered the sound of the merry-making, Gawain tapped his foot impatiently as Flora rubbed on her wrist. "‘Twas me husband. We had a small disagreement and—"
"Have ye reported this to anyone? His father?"
"Nae, I’ve nae. It... I cannae." Gawain found himself at a loss for words when tears started to roll down her face. "I’m scared of him, Gawain. He terrifies me! Everyone in the highlands knows him for his brute. Even his father fears him!" She sobbed quietly, wiping her face with the back of her palm continuously until Gawain reached into his pockets and took out his handkerchief, tilting her face upwards to dab gently at her tears.
"Ye refuse to voice out because he scares ye? That will only make him do worse. Will ye wait until he beats ye so bad ye can't show yer face fer weeks?" The image of Scott's rugged face flashed through Gawain's head, and he felt a shiver creep up his back. The man did make him uneasy so he could understand where his wife was coming from when she said he scared her. "I say ye talk to yer father about it. Get it out at once and let what will happen, happen." Gawain pulled away from her, but she held on to his hand with the handkerchief. Her eyes peered you at him, wide with expectation.
"I wish I had married ye, Gawain. When I think about how ye treated me compared to how me husband treats me, it brings tears to me eyes." She let her hands slide up to cup his face, bringing herself closer by raising herself on her toes. "I remember how happy ye made me, ye always went out of yer way to please me. Gawain, is there a chance that we could go back to the way we were? We could make each other happy again and not care about the consequences."
Gawain let out a sigh as Flora continued to press herself to his chest. Why couldn't the woman he wanted show this much interest in him? Why did it have to be a maid or his previous lover? Gawain pulled Flora away from him by her shoulders, steadying her before meeting her confused gaze.
"Lady Flora, ye’re married to the Laird of an ally clan. The last thing I want would be to trick anyone. A lot will be on the line here. Me brother's and clan's trust in me, ye and yer husband's alliance with me clan, yer marriage, both our dignities as well. So please, ye must understand why I say yer wish cannae be granted. If ye would excuse me, I must attend the feast and I wish ye the best concerning ye husband."
As he turned to leave her, Flora grabbed onto his arm. "Nae. I cannae allow that. I only want us to be lovers again.”
"Gawain, we could even get married. I’ll leave these wretched highlands that have brought me nothing but pain and flee with ye to the seas. No one loves ye here either. Everywhere ye go, eyeballs seasoned in hatred follow ye. Yer brother can only do so much.” She inched closer to him and buried her teary face into his chest. “No one loves us, Gawain! Why stay?"
Indeed, he knew his predicament. To many, trying to win over his clan is only but a fool’s errand. They never forgave. Why stay? He thought to himself. Why stay knowing that he would never be accepted? His presence made things worse for his brother. And he knew that even Caillen had his doubts. However, Caillen thought his return would be, it seemed there was no saving his honor. And a man without honor is no man at all. It wouldn’t be long before he couldn’t stand the hard looks and spiteful spits he was enduring.
He stretched his other arm to embrace Flora and the idea of a clean slate, knowing he at least tried to return. But as he felt her body, his only reason for staying became jarringly obvious; Davinia. She was worth staying for. She was worth trying harder to fit in the home that rejects him still. Without her letters, his guilt would have devoured his sanity.
He wanted to tell Flora about his feelings for Davinia, but his mind was clouded by what he had seen. Like everything else, he would probably lose her. Hector was the better man for many reasons. He loosened his embrace around Flora as he once again remembered how cozy Davinia was around Hector.
Maybe he would consider leaving, but not with Flora. He once tried to take something that belonged to someone else, not again. She sank her fingers into his arm, and he struggled to free himself of her.
“Listen to me,” he said, after forcing her off his chest and holding her shoulders at arm’s length, “Ye cannae stay with…”
While he was speaking, Flora freed herself of his grip and ran past him, her skirts kicking up behind her, leaving the corridor before him. He looked back to see what had made her rush off and locked eyes with Scott. The man's sharp green eyes under the moon's rays projected an eerie feeling. By his side, a shiny golden, ornate sword with a black skull for a pommel dangled gently. Scott grabbed the sword and stayed it in place.
With intent, he moved toward Gawain, who took a step back. Scott did not break eye contact once.
For the first time, he noticed the man’s bulkiness. He was bigger and taller than Gawain. His tunic had concealed his heftiness, or maybe he didn’t pay attention. His face stayed clenched around his nose as he exhaled on Gawain as he passed by him.
Could he have heard the conversation Gawain had with his wife? He understood why Flora said everyone was afraid of him. Gawain did not move until Scott was out of the corridor, only then did he let out the breath he did not even know he was holding. What was it that made Gawain uneasy about Scott? He had seen men with darker looks in their eyes both at home and in exile, but he never felt this nervous around them?
He had only been back for a few days and he was already finding himself confused about a lot of things. First, it was Davinia and Hector, then that maid, Flora, and now her husband.
He worried about Flora, but he tried to shake it off. Whether he loved her or not, no one deserved to be treated to a beating, especially not from a man like Scott Perhaps he could help her, but how? He had but little support from anyone and the man was simply too big to intimidate.
On top of that, there was simply no time. The couple would leave by the morrow once the feasts were over. Nothing could be done, at least not now, not amidst all the tension. The last thing he wanted was to draw attention to himself. It wouldn’t be good for anyone.
